Deerfield Board Taps RDI for Senior Housing
Select Board · Meeting of September 9, 2026
Deerfield Select Board designates RDI as preferred developer for 34-unit senior housing. The board voted 3-0 to let Rural Development Inc., the development arm of the Franklin Regional Housing Authority, begin negotiating a land disposition agreement for 83-85 North Main Street, despite neighbors' objections over cost and zoning waivers. Resident Holly Lankowski warned the town's financial exposure could reach "$1.73 million to $1.92 million" beyond its original $420,000 land purchase if RDI's outside grants fall through, and cited a proposed 47-foot building against the town's 35-foot height limit.
Town Counsel Lisa Mead told the board, "if you don't, you're done; if you do, then you move forward," describing the vote as a preliminary step subject to zoning, Community Preservation Act funding and further board approval. The board also adopted a facilities use policy for the 1821 Meeting House, authorized a $30,000 FRCOG contract to update its hazard mitigation plan, and designated Town Administrator Christopher Dunn as local government representative under the state's new energy siting law.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,252 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of September 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Keep reading with a 30-day free trial
Subscribe to Deerfield News to keep reading this post and get 30 days of free access to the full post archives.
Starting a trial requires a payment method. After 30 free days your subscription begins at the price shown at checkout and renews automatically until you cancel. You can cancel anytime from your account. Subscription terms
A subscription gets you:
- Subscriber-only posts and full archive
- Post comments and join the community
- 24x7 access to local news